Releasing device for buggy-tops.



N0. 580,735. Patented Aug. 20, I901.

J. T. PRUUTY.

RELEASING DEVICE FOR BUGGY TOPS.

(Application filed Dec. 26, 1900.]

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JOHN T. PROUTY, OF PADDOCK, NEBRASKA.

RELEASIING DEVICE FOR BUGGY=TOPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Eatent No. 680,735, dated August20, 1901. Application filed December 26, 1900. Serial No. 41,037. (Nomodel.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN T. PROUTY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Paddock, Nebraska,have invented certain new and use fulImprovements in Release Devices for Buggy-Tops, of which the followingisa specification.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and efficient meansto enable the occupant of the buggy to readily and easily operate thebraces that keep the top in its raised position,whereby the top may bequickly lowered in case of emergency and whereby the occupant may lowerit at any time Without getting out of the conveyance. This object Iaccomplish by means of the device illustrated in the drawings andhereinafter set forth.

In the drawings accompanying this specification and forming a partthereof, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a buggy-top provided with myimproved release device. a view in crosssection of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is adetail showing the bearings and means for attaching the device to theframe of the buggytop, and Fig. 4 is a detail showing the releaselever.

The top A is of the usual construction, having a suitablesupporting-frame, of which the through brace or rib a forms a part inthe customary manner and which is held in normal raised position bymeans of the usual set of braces a. and top braces (1 connected to theframe in the well-known manner. A rod B is mounted to rotate in bearings17, secured to the sides of the top, preferably upon the brace or rib a,the bearings being preferably in the form of short castings and beingsocured to the brace or rib a by suitable exterior and interior platesZ), which are bolted or riveted to the frame, preferably at its topcurve, so the rod extends across the top at a point above the head of anoccupant of the carriage. The rod is provided at either end with arelease-lever B, fitted upon a squared portion of the shaft and adaptedto operate upon the braces a and a Each lever is in the form of a yokecomposed of the depending portion 11 and the legs or limbs 19 and b Thelegs have lateral ears or projections b and 6 respectively, extendinginto the space between the braces a and a and adapted to Fig. 2 iscontact with and throw these braces, respem tively, when the lever isrocked backward or forward. The rod B is provided with a suitable handleb located within the top and convenient to the reach of the occupant.

When it is desired to lower the top, the op erator pulls down upon thehandle 19 thereby rocking the yokes rearwardly and causing theprojections b to throw the braces c as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4.,whereby the top may drop. A reverse or upward. movement of the handlethen causes the projections 19 to throw the top braces (1 whereby theroof of the cover may collapse to still farther lower the top, as iswell understood. The legs of the yokes are curved or bowed to allow therequisite amount of play about the pivot c of the braces, as clearlyshown in Fig. 4. The braces a are usually outside of the braces a andhence the legs 19 of the yokes may be curved laterally to cause the pins12 to engage their braces, or the pins may be lengthened for thispurpose.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

1. In a buggy-top, the combination with the frame and braces thereof, ofa release device comprising a rotatable rod mounted on the frame andhaving a yoke at each end adapted to release the braces when moved inopposite directions.

2. In a buggy-top, the combination with the frame and braces, of arelease device comprisinga rod rotatably mounted in the frame, a yoke ateach end of the rod composed of two legs, one pair of legs adapted torelease the outside braces and the other the inside braces when the rodis oppositely rotated.

3. A release device for buggy-tops comprising a through-rod mounted inthe frame, a yoke at each end of the rod composed of a depending portionand two bowed legs provided with lateral pins.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

JOHN T. PROUTY.

Witnesses:

- E. B. SEBRING,

FRANK W. Woons.

